My arms are terrible, but I was focusing more on the jump. (not that that's an excuse, but yeah. Also, this was after a 3 hour dance class!)

I thought this looked cool though, and I wanted to share!

This is amazing!!!!! How did you get your leg so high?

Nice!!! You have beautiful points, too Now that you have the jump itself, work on the posture and arms and before you know it: world champ!

awesome! I took a similar picture too. I love leap photos!

Queenof_thedance- I drilled birdies (they really help with leaps) and these things my TC calls "up ups" where you jump into the air without kicking your bum, bringing your leg to about 90 degrees, then before you land from the jump, you bring it up higher (so you push your leg up twice...if that makes sense.)

Rince- Thank you! I've worked very hard to get my feet where they are- I used to be completely flat footed. I've never really had a slouching/posture issue with dance before, but I've also never gotten my jumps to look like this. Sort of have to retrain my body, I think.

Irishfeislove- Thanks! And- I saw your photo! Lookin' good

Wow I remember your post on getting prelim firsts a while ago--have you done it yet? Jumps are definately my thing, and I don't think I've ever seen a prelim with jumpovers like that.

What exercises do you do for your feet? I have low arches and points are basically my enemies. Every feis I get a pointing comment, aggh! But yeah, great job

I was just going to butt in on the foot part too. I have low arches too sorry for spamming this post lol.

irishgirl26- Thank you! I've been working really hard towards my goals. I'm still in prelim, I was hit with a second ban after only one competition back, so I haven't had a chance to compete yet. Hopefully I'll get my firsts once I start competing in April! (also, funny story, my first feis back will be worlds! haha!)

For my feet I've pretty much gone a bit crazysauce with the exercises. I also work my feet religiously, it's an OCD thing (but, i think that's helped me get my points looking better) Here are a few of my exercises:

1.) I do lots of releves/calf raises (to reel music, actually "up two three four, down two three four etc). I also love doing those on the bottom stair with my heels hanging off the edge of the stair (starting with your heel lower than your toes).

2.) I used to use my theraband every night (resting on weekends). I would just do simple things like "point, demi pointe, flex, demi, point" etc. I find it's also helpful if you get different band strengths to see which is best for your foot, and once your foot gets stronger it can "graduate" to the next band strength. I don't do this anymore simply because I've lost my theraband and I've been too lazy to get a new one.

3.) Weighted towel scrunching. My ex TC used to have my scrunch towels/pencils/marbles with my toes, but once that got too easy, I started putting books on my towels to add resistance.

Lastly I stretch my feet a LOT. After all my exercises I will stretch my feet (calves and heels, too). I would also like to advise people to use common sense if they want to do any of these foot workouts to ALWAYS warm up your feet first. And, also, never ever stretch cold feet.

All that being said, I've been working on my feet for over 6 years, and while I have definitely seen a lot of improvement, it does happen slowly. ALso, check youtube for Yoga for Feet videos. They have some great stretching and strengthening tips.

Edit: irishfeislove- no worries. I'd love if my post was helpful to other arch-impaired dancers ;D

I'd just like to add my feet are definitely not perfect, and that people all react differently to exercises. And also that the ballet forums are wonderful for more foot strengthening tips.

I know I already commented on facebook, but just wanted to squee about how wonderful these pics are here as well. You'll be in opens in no time with the work you've put in and the way you've been dancing!

AWESOME picture!! Lucky you! Congrats on all your hard work paying off!

Katie- Thank youuu <3! I am REALLY gunning for opens. I have 4.5 months of hardcore practice until my first feis, I'm definitely not going to just going to sit my way through training and hope for the best >:P

Sakura- Thank you!! It's such a relief when you can clearly see that all your hard work has paid off.

Okay, so what are birdies? I definitely will try that second exercise!

K

^ A bird or 'birdie' is where you leap but instead of landing on your leg that is pointing out you land back on your leg you just hit your bum with.

Edit: Can't embed videos. okay.

www.facebook.com . . .

Doing a birdie/bird/unswitched leap. Not the best example, but you get the idea.

What a fantastic picture! Your height is amazing. You must be working really hard...keep it up!!!

You have a great lift and height! Well done

How did you get your right leg to tuck under your butt like that??? It looks so good!!!

GRL611- Thank you! I worked very very hard to get my jumps where they are. You should have seen them 6 months ago...or maybe, not. Haha!

lottamaria- thanks

irishdancerforevr- Thanks! The backleg? I'm not sure, lol. I was just thinking it looked a little funny. Maybe it was just the timing of the picture. My teacher shouts at me all the time to "tuck your back leg" more!

Are there any exersizes or stretches you do to help you tuck your back leg under like that?

For a while I was using resistance bands/therabands wrapped around the top of my foot while it was in "bum kicking" position and I would straighten my leg. BUT I do not know how safe that is, and I would recommend you talk to you dance teacher before trying. (Because I'm no doctor!)

Other than that, I would just consciously think about 'snapping' my leg up as soon as I was in the air. It helps to have an angry irish dance teacher yelling at you, though. Once you get the front leg high, the back leg sort of "learns" what it has to do. Also, I think it sort of just comes naturally with lots of practice and drills.

Hi, I am very impressed with the tips you have kindly put up have you by any chance done a youtube clip or would you consider doing one I would love to see how each of the exercises are done watching them as i try to replicate them via your written advice but would like to see if I am close to doing them correctly, also if you have any other tips they would be greatly appreciated. Thankyou for being so kind in putting up the original info.

Very cool! I was wondering how to train to get the leg up that high. Thanks for the tips!

Very cool! I was wondering how to train to get the leg up that high. Thanks for the tips!

idtc- I'll make a few videos over weekend!

katymanjero- I did "up ups". Basically, i jump, like I'm doing a birdie (but I don't kick my bum at first) and then I push my leg up. So while I'm coming down from the jump, I'm pushing my leg up twice. up-UP.

I can make some videos for you too, if you like.